Manufacture of shovels



No. 376,398. Patented Jan. 10, 1888.

fizz/2725555. I Z7 LIE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES C. RUSSELL, OF BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA.

MANUFACTURE OF SHOVELS, SPADES, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 376,398, dated January10, 1888.

Application filed July 30, 1887. Serial No. 245,707. (No model.)

of blanks for tubular-socket or hollow-back shovels, spades, and scoops,and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it pertains to make and use it, "reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in the manufacture of blanks fortubular-socket or hollow-back shovels, spadesfand scoops; and itconsists in forming theblank from a flat heated steelor iron plate,which has previously been rolled so as to have the same width as thestrap which is to be formed and about twice the thickness of the plate,and then passing one end of the plate between rolls for the purpose oflengthening the plate and forming the strap, and. then passing theopposite end of the blank at right angles to the other end between therolls to form the blade, whereby the blade end is widened and an almostfinished blank is produced, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to take finished plates, which havealready been rolled to the required length and thickness, so as to avoidhaving to reduce a billet into a blank for each shovel that is formed,and thus greatly quicken and cheapen the process for forming blanks andshovels, to avoid loss of material arising from reducing billets, and toform the strap and blade in one solid piece, so as to avoid the use ofrivets in fastening the socket to the blade, and prevent the shovel frombeing weakened.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the bar from which the blank is to be formed.Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same after the strap has been rolled. Fig.3 is a plan view of the blank complete.

after having been properly heated, is passed endwise between suitablerolls,so as to lengthen out the strap to the required length. In rollingthis end of the plate it is simply lengthened out, but not widened. Thestrap portion having been rolled, the plate is turned, and the otherportion, which has not been subjected to the rolls, is passed sidewisebetween them, to be laterally expanded until this portion assumes thewidth of the blade and is also reduced to the proper thickness. The tworollings may be performed between the same rolls or different ones, andatthe same heat, or at different ones, as may be desired. It isimmaterial which end of the plate is first subjected to the action ofthe rolls, for either end may be acted upon first, just as may bedesired. Whether the portion of the plate intended for the blade on theblank or the portion that is to form the socket-strap is to be firstrolled is a mere matter of convenience, and does not affect the process.The rolls used to finish thestraps are preferably to be eccentric-rolls,as they are best adapted for the purpose, owing to their varyingcapacity, and plain rolls for the blades.

It will be, seen that the blanks are formed without loss of any materialwhatever, and that the blade and socket portions are formed in a singlepiece, so as to dispense with all necessity for rivets. After the plateA has been rolled it is only necessary to first heat it; second, passone end in one direction between the rolls, and, third, to pass theopposite end at right angles through the rolls, and an almost finishedblank is produced.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- The method herein describedof making shovel-blanks, consisting in, first, taking a heated platewhich has been previously rolled, and which has about twice thethickness of the finished blade, but the same width as the finishedstrap, to form a tubular socket; second, passing one end of the saidblank between rolls to lengthen out the strap, and, third, passing theopposite end of the blank at right angles between the rolls to form theblade, whereby an almost finished blank is produced, substantially asset forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses: JAMES C. RUSSELL.

G. L. EBERHART, S. S. GRIMM.

